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The oldest divisions of time were mainly based on the observation of the movements of the heavenly bodies, the “ordinances of heaven” (Genesis 1:14-18; Job 38:33; Jeremiah 31:35; 33:25). Such observations led to the division of the year into months and the mapping out of the appearances of the stars into twelve portions, which received from the Greeks the name of the “zodiac.” The word “Mazzaroth” (Job 38:32) means, as the margin notes, “the twelve signs” of the zodiac. Astronomical observations were also necessary among the Jews in order to the fixing of the proper time for sacred ceremonies, the “new moons,” the “passover,” etc. Many allusions are found to the display of God’s wisdom and power as seen in the starry heavens (Psalm 8; 19:1-6; Isaiah 51:6, etc.)
•ASUPPIM (1 Chronicles 26:15, 17, Authorized Version; but in Revised Version, “storehouse”), properly the house of stores for the priests. In Nehemiah 12:25 the Authorized Version has “thresholds,” marg. “treasuries” or “assemblies;” Revised Version, “storehouses.”
•ATAD buckthorn, a place where Joseph and his brethren, when on their way from Egypt to Hebron with the remains of their father Jacob, made for seven days a “great and very sore lamentation.” On this account the Canaanites called it “Abel-mizraim” (Genesis 50:10, 11). It was probably near Hebron. The word is rendered “bramble” in Judges 9:14, 15, and “thorns” in Psalm 58:9.
•ATAROTH crowns. (1.) A city east of Jordan, not far from Gilead (Numbers 32:3).
(2.) A town on the border of Ephraim and Benjamin (Joshua 16:2, 7), called also Ataroth-adar (16:5). Now ed-Da’rieh.
(3.) “Ataroth, the house of Joab” (1 Chronicles 2:54), a town of Judah inhabited by the descendants of Caleb.